Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-01-24
A THUNDERCLAP
Bursts Upon the First Congregational
Church, in This City, Sunday
Morning.
Rev. Mr.. Warren Announces That He Has
Received o Call to the Pastorate OF
the Central Congregational
Church at Cincinnati.

There was an unusually large audience.
In spite of the mud and threatening wealth
ar. at the Congregational church, on Center
street, Sunday morning. Many of the chill
dren had come up from the Sunday school
and there was q general feeling OF courage
and hope in the hearts Of the members
indeed, there has been much improvement
In the affairs Of the church, OF late-a great
increase In attendance and activity, and
growing feeling that the enlarged and i'm
proved church edifice was looming up In
the near future. There has never been
time in the history Of the church when pas
tor and people were more heartily
and affectionately united In feel
ing and sympathy or more act
lively and vigorously engaged in push
ing the work in hand. The opening serv-
ices were unusually impressive. The
anthem was superb, and 1t was most ef-
fectiyely produced under the direction OF
the chorister, Mr.. z. r. Cheney.
There was much surprise and great re-
vuIsion of feeling. therefore, when Mr..
Warren announced in the opening OF his
sermon that he had an important statement
70 make concerning matter that had been
presented to him, very unexpectedly during
the past week. He then said committee
of three gentlemen had come TO him from
the Central Wine street. Congregational
church. Cincinnati, bearing call from that
organization to become its pastor.
This announcement came like thunder
clan and had profound effect upon the
entire congregation. No pastor was ever
more thoroughly and universally beloved
than Mr.. Warren is by his people here-no
man was ever more intelligently and at-
fectionately appreciated, and when the
fact that he might leave here for another
field burst upon his hearers many were AZ
fected to tears.
Nj. Warren spoke very touchingly OF
his twelve years of work here; OF his new
home and the delight he and his family
had had in occupying it; of the trial
which would be involved in separation,
etc, etc.
He stated that he had told the committee
that he could not believe that his work IN
Springfield was yet completed, but that he
had still listened to their earnest pleadings
and their effective presentation Of the needs
of their field. and that his only wish now
WAS TO take the course which Providence
tllht uC w tohe.
was. he said, Q much pleasanter city in
every respect. in which to live and to work,
than Cincinnati; he had many friends here
whom II would be hard matter to leave;
and spoke of what he and the church had
been able to do, in the city, and in connec-
ton with the Lagonda chapel enterprise.
1t Is not an easy matter to describe the
feeling which was manifested on this occa-
sion. All felt that q great blow had faller
upon the church and congregation and
there was much foreboding as TO the result
of the matter The feeling is universal
that Mr.. Warren is now emphatically the
right man in the right place; that, as he
told the Cincinnati committee, his work
here Is not yet finished; and 1t will be
very difficult matter for the church to con-
sent to his withdrawal from among them.
Our citizens will be glad to know that
Mr.. Warren has not yet decided to accept
the call. So far is this from being tire
that he has not even yet formally presented
the matter to his church for action.